5 Reasons Kayfabe is dead in pro wrestling, and 5 reasons it isn't

Kayfabe is dead: Fans rejected Vince McMahon's 'death.'

In 2007, the WWE was feeling the pinch from the rapidly growing TNA (now called Impact) promotion. TNA was emphasizing in-ring action during this era, and many fans were abandoning WWE for their rival's product.

Rather than try and compete on the same terms with TNA, McMahon decided to use more 'extreme' storylines and angles. He had faux priest Mordecai ' ex-communicate' an entire live audience, essentially condemning them to Hell. Boogeyman was spitting up worm guts and biting off tumors from women's faces.

And Vince McMahon, well, he 'died.' Sort of.

McMahon's limo was seen to explode at the end of an episode of RAW. The following week the WWE presented the events as if McMahon had actually died, including a twenty-one bell salute and superstars sharing their 'memories' of the deceased man.

The fans, however, weren't having any of it. They joyously sang Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye as McMahon's memorial services went on. The announce team even broke character to chastise the fans for their 'disrespect' to a 'fallen' man.

We'll never know if the WWE would have kept pushing the ill-received angle or not, because of the regrettable Benoit tragedy. McMahon dropped the ruse immediately after Benoit's tabloid fodder death, but there is no doubt that the fans refused to play along with the kayfabe on this occasion.